During Manchester City’s challenging stretch of poor form toward the end of 2024, Pep Guardiola often appeared tense and frustrated. However, after watching his side deliver a resounding 6-0 victory over a struggling Ipswich on Sunday, Guardiola seemed far more composed.
The dominant performance served as a reminder of why City has been the benchmark for English football over the past decade. “We are back to doing things that define this team for the last 10 years,” Guardiola told Sky Sports after the match.
“I’m really pleased for the players, they deserve it. They suffer a lot in this time, but we recovered some identities we lost in this path.”
City’s title hopes have been severely dented by a dismal run of just one league win in nine games through November and December. They now sit 12 points behind League leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand. While a fifth consecutive title seems unlikely, the thrashing of Ipswich helped City move into fourth place, overtaking Newcastle. They now trail Arsenal and Nottingham Fores by six points in the race for second.
Guardiola, though, was more focused on the progress his team showed against Ipswich. “[It was] much better,” Guardiola said. “Maybe not our best, but closer. The players realized where we were, our standards lacked because it’s not just winning titles, it is the joy to do your best.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a big actor in London or a little theater in Sheffield – it doesn’t matter. I think the players proved many things and hopefully it can be the beginning of recognizing ourselves of who we were.”
This marked City’s biggest Premier League win of the season. The victory also tied their record to the biggest away win in Premier League history, matching their 6-0 triumph over Watford in 2017.
With 14 goals in their last four games, City’s free scoring form seems to have returned. While winning the League would require an extraordinary turnaround and a significant dip in Liverpool’s form, history suggests that City should not be entirely ruled out. In the 2018-19 season, they overcame a 10 point deficit by New Year to edge Liverpool to the title by a single point.
For now, Guardiola’s priority is ensuring his players enjoy their football gain. Phil Foden is a prime example, rediscovering the form that earned him the PFA Player of the Year honours last season, with a career-best 27 goals and 12 assists. With two goals against Ipswich, Foden has now scored five in his last three League games.
“It is good to see me back scoring goals with a smile on my face and enjoying football,” said Foden. “I want to keep going and adding to that. You never know what can happen. The aim is to stay in the top four.”
Guardiola is eager for Foden to commit his future to the club, especially after Erling Haaland recently signed a nine-and-a-half-year contract extension. “He can be a one-club man and finish his career here and play many, many years,” said the City boss.
“We talked many times over the last month or weeks, he was a completely different boy at the beginning of the season with a few problems, because they are human beings and sometimes in a long career you have a setback, it’s normal.
“But we’re really pleased that he’s happy again and enjoying playing and that’s really good for all of us.”
With three wins in their last four games and a six match unbeaten streak, City seems to be hitting form just in time. They now shift focus to a pivotal Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Currently 22nd in the league phase of the competition, City needs victories on their final two games to secure automatic qualification for the knockouts.
Off the pitch, City is also preparing for the future. Guardiols confirmed changes are expected, both in terms of arrivals and departures. Kyle Walker was absent from the squad amid rumours linking him to AC Milan. Meanwhile, City is close to signing Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, Brazillian teenage defender Vitor reis, and Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.
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